Bali Orders Census Of Island To Gauge Cultural Strength As Tourism Grows

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Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has announced that there will be a Balinese Cultural Census carried out in the next few months.

Governor Koster is on a mission to protect and preserve Balinese culture while balancing development, growth, and a booming tourism sector. 

Balinese culture is unique and incredibly well-preserved. It is Balinese culture that attracts millions of tourists to the island every year. But as the world changes, so too is the island.

One of the most unique aspects of Balinese culture is its traditional naming system. In Bali, children are named based on their birth order.

For example all first-born children, regardless of their gender, are called Wayan, Putu, or Gede, all second-born children are called Made, Nengah, Kadek, or Kade, all third-born children are called Komang or Nyoman, and all fourth-born children are called Ketut.

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Children are often given a middle name or second name, and if children are born into families of five children or more the naming system cycles around again. Though if the firstborn in a family is named Wayan, then the fifth may be Putu or Gede and so on.

Based on changing familial setups, young people in Bali are having fewer children than their parents and grandparents.

A trend that can be seen in most countries around the world. Governor Koster has spoken before of how he is concerned that the names Komang, Nyoman and Ketut are at risk of going extinct.

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This is just one reason why Governor Koster is calling for a Bali Census, to help identify which areas of Balinese culture are in need of protection and in need of more resources to help preserve.

At the press conference announcement for the census, Governor Koster told the media, “We will design [the census], whether the Bali Province Central Statistics Agency (BPS) will be the organizer of this census with cooperation or how the mechanism will be. What is clear is that the cultural data in this traditional village must be detailed and we have it as an asset.”

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Governor Koster wants to understand the big and small changes that Balinese culture is facing. For example, the changing use of materials in rituals, ceremonies and daily religious offerings is all of importance.

For example, many local people are changing the flowers or items in which they offer at temples based on the inflated costs of goods and local income levels. It is important to understand how the economy is impacting the way in which local people can enact their cultural practices and vice versa.

He added that the census will not only help inform cultural preservation work but also help better understand the unique position of the Bali Provincial economy.

Governor Koster shared “It is necessary to conduct a deeper study of the Balinese economy because currently, Bali is undergoing an economic transformation through the concept of the Bali Kerthi Economy which includes the organic agriculture, marine and fisheries, small and medium industries (IKM) and micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) sectors.”

The Head of the Bali Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Agus Gede Hendrayana Hermawan, told reporters of his support for the Bali census, noting “We are proud to have the Governor of Bali because Mr. Wayan Koster is the most accurate in using data as a reference in designing development programs in Bali.”

As the tourism sector continues to grow in Bali, leaders are on a clear mission to promote and encourage sustainable and culturally respectful tourism. Governor Koster has recently issued a series of do’s and don’ts that all tourists must legally abide by during their visits to the island.

Rules include observing temple etiquette, staying only at legally registered accommodations, and hiring locally registered tour guides and drivers for the duration of a visit to the island.